HS Football Player Damon Janes Dies After Helmet-To-Helmet Hit

High School football player Damon Janes died this weekend after a head-to-head hit.

Janes, the running back for the Westfield/Brocton football team, lost consciousness after a helmet-to-helmet hit during a game on Friday.

The Daily Mail reports that Janes took a hard hit during the third quarter of Westfield’s game against Portville. Janes was able to walk off the field but then collapsed on the sidelines.

He was then taken to a hospital in Buffalo, New York. Sadly, he passed away from his injuries this morning.

The official cause of death has not been announced.

A statement from Janes family and the Women & Children’s Hospital at Buffalo reads: “Damon W. Janes, 16, a junior who attended Brocton Central School, lost his fight and went to be with the Lord following his injury resulting from helmet-to-helmet collision during a Westfield/Brocton varsity football game. His parents wish to express their gratitude to those who have supported and prayed for Damon and his family, and continue to request that their privacy be respected at this time.”

A report from the University of North Carolina entitled “Annual Survey of Football Injury Research” states that there have been 25 fatal high school football injuries in the United States over the last decade. Close to 80 players have also suffered brain damage.

Brocton School Superintendent John Hertlein added: “This is the community’s loss, as well as the school’s loss and we’re deeply sorry for all of that… Our prayers are with his family, his classmates, his teammates and so on. We have no particular information on any type of arrangements and counselors will be available for students throughout this entire week.”

Our thoughts and sympathies are with the entire Brocton community today. The death of Damon Janes is a tragedy, and he will be missed.